Published: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 11:37 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 3:13 p.m.

The nonprofit, which uses the acronym PARK, was founded in 2011 by Linda Ballou.

“We are starting an investigation into potential fraud,” said Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino, adding that the case will be assigned to an experienced fraud detective.

Until the Herald-Tribune revealed that Ballou had faked her credentials, she managed to garner support from several public officials including State Attorney Ed Brodsky, who serves on her board.

Brodsky said in an email Tuesday that Ballou asked him to serve on the board of her nonprofit, and he agreed. But he was not an active board member.

“I have never attended a board meeting, and do not plan to attend this week's meeting,” Brodsky said.

Because he “did have some role in supporting the organization,” Brodsky said Wednesday if criminal charges are sought by Sarasota Police, he will refer the case to another State Attorney's Office, a not-uncommon occurrence, usually Tampa or Fort Myers.

“I am disappointed and saddened,” he said, citing statistics that show seven people die every day in Florida from prescription drug abuse.

“From that standpoint, this was an easy organization to want to embrace,” Brodsky said. “It wasn't about supporting Linda Ballou. It was about supporting and changing what we as a community can collectively do about prescription drug abuse.”

Herald-Tribune stories published last week revealed that Ballou, who stressed her medical experience while courting donors, obtained her doctorate from a diploma mill. Two universities she claimed had awarded her advanced degrees had no record of her receiving any academic credentials.

The stories also raised questions about the efficacy of her nonprofit, which despite constant fundraising, offers no viable programs to the community.

Ballou and her secretary were packing boxes Wednesday morning. She declined to comment Wednesday, and threatened to call police if a reporter did not leave her office.

Neither board member and treasurer Dan M. Smith, a certified public accountant and tax manager, nor board member Robert W. Browning Jr., a Sarasota attorney, would comment about the criminal probe.

The future of the embattled nonprofit and the status of money it has collected from donors could be decided by the board members this week.

In an email sent before DiPino announced her investigation, Smith said “to the best of his knowledge, PARK has raised less than $25,000 in donations during its existence.”

Ballou, Smith said, has drawn no salary from PARK.

“The Board will be meeting in the near future to determine the future of the organization,” Smith said. “In the event the Board decides to dissolve the entity, the proper steps will be taken in accordance with IRS regulations.”

Any remaining money, the accountant said, will be “used to meet outstanding obligations of the organization and be donated to a public charity of the Board's choosing.”

The Herald-Tribune also revealed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused Ballou in 2001 of playing a role in a multistate Ponzi scheme by a Florida company that bilked investors out of millions of dollars.

While Ballou, 70, has touted an “extensive medical background,” including decades of work as a registered nurse in surgeries, delivery rooms and a psychiatric facility, she told the newspaper she never had a nursing license, and worked as a certified nursing assistant, or CNA.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - Sarasota Police have started a criminal fraud investigation into the embattled Prescription Addiction Really Kills Foundation.</p><p>The nonprofit, which uses the acronym PARK, was founded in 2011 by Linda Ballou.</p><p>“We are starting an investigation into potential fraud,” said Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino, adding that the case will be assigned to an experienced fraud detective. </p><p>Until the Herald-Tribune revealed that Ballou had faked her credentials, she managed to garner support from several public officials including State Attorney Ed Brodsky, who serves on her board. </p><p>Brodsky said in an email Tuesday that Ballou asked him to serve on the board of her nonprofit, and he agreed. But he was not an active board member. </p><p>“I have never attended a board meeting, and do not plan to attend this week's meeting,” Brodsky said. </p><p>Because he “did have some role in supporting the organization,” Brodsky said Wednesday if criminal charges are sought by Sarasota Police, he will refer the case to another State Attorney's Office, a not-uncommon occurrence, usually Tampa or Fort Myers. </p><p>“I am disappointed and saddened,” he said, citing statistics that show seven people die every day in Florida from prescription drug abuse.</p><p>“From that standpoint, this was an easy organization to want to embrace,” Brodsky said. “It wasn't about supporting Linda Ballou. It was about supporting and changing what we as a community can collectively do about prescription drug abuse.” </p><p>Herald-Tribune stories published last week revealed that Ballou, who stressed her medical experience while courting donors, obtained her doctorate from a diploma mill. Two universities she claimed had awarded her advanced degrees had no record of her receiving any academic credentials.</p><p>The stories also raised questions about the efficacy of her nonprofit, which despite constant fundraising, offers no viable programs to the community.</p><p>PARK's website and Facebook account were closed down last week. Someone removed the sign from outside PARK's Fruitville Road office suite. </p><p>Ballou and her secretary were packing boxes Wednesday morning. She declined to comment Wednesday, and threatened to call police if a reporter did not leave her office.</p><p>Neither board member and treasurer Dan M. Smith, a certified public accountant and tax manager, nor board member Robert W. Browning Jr., a Sarasota attorney, would comment about the criminal probe. </p><p>The future of the embattled nonprofit and the status of money it has collected from donors could be decided by the board members this week.</p><p>In an email sent before DiPino announced her investigation, Smith said “to the best of his knowledge, PARK has raised less than $25,000 in donations during its existence.”</p><p>Ballou, Smith said, has drawn no salary from PARK.</p><p>“The Board will be meeting in the near future to determine the future of the organization,” Smith said. “In the event the Board decides to dissolve the entity, the proper steps will be taken in accordance with IRS regulations.”</p><p>Any remaining money, the accountant said, will be “used to meet outstanding obligations of the organization and be donated to a public charity of the Board's choosing.” </p><p>The Herald-Tribune also revealed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused Ballou in 2001 of playing a role in a multistate Ponzi scheme by a Florida company that bilked investors out of millions of dollars.</p><p>While Ballou, 70, has touted an “extensive medical background,” including decades of work as a registered nurse in surgeries, delivery rooms and a psychiatric facility, she told the newspaper she never had a nursing license, and worked as a certified nursing assistant, or CNA.</p>